An Attractive, Progressive Community…
Bloomington, Indiana is known as "The Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana" and "Tree City USA". 50 miles south of Indianapolis, the town boasts spectacular scenery, world-class education and unique shopping and dining experiences. The Bloomington Center is within walking distance to Indiana University and all that caters to it. Dozens of galleries and museums are nestled amongst unique shops and eateries. For those who appreciate a thriving, artistic community, Bloomington is a popular destination.
Exceptional Local Colleges & Universities
Ivy Tech Community College is the nation's largest statewide community college with single accreditation. It is the state's largest public post-secondary institution serving more than 120,000 students a year. Students can choose from over 150 programs and concentrations. In addition, Indiana University has 130 undergraduate majors and over 320 other programs available, including an exceptional music program. The Bloomington Center provides academic liaison with the office of disabilities. All students complete a Learning Skills Assessment prior to registration.
C-STEP (Career Skills Training and Employment Program)
Through this program students receive the support services and skills instruction they need to become self-motivated, self-sufficient, young professionals that can forge ahead and succeed in developing a clear objective for their career paths and be successful negotiators in the world of work. The goal of the program is to enable our students to develop self-advocacy and motivation so that they may take their places in the adult workforce, contributing to society and fulfilling their own potential.
Internship & Career Opportunities
Our goal is for every student to have an internship or job so that they can begin or continue developing their career skills. If a student is enrolled in college, their internship will typically be just a few hours per week. Some students hold one or two internships or jobs up to 20 hours per week. The Bloomington Center offers a variety of internship opportunities. Recent examples include: Head Start Classroom, paid position at Bloomingfoods grocer, paid positions at the YMCA Can-Do-Kids Preschool for special needs children, Winder Lab weekly, the Audio Shop, Bloomington Animal Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, UITS (University Information Technology Services), Bloomington Bagel Company and the annual Greenfest festival.
Health & Wellness
CIP is deeply committed to promoting the wellness of each and every student. CIP offers wellness sessions lead by experienced staff members who assist in identifying that balance of wellness through nutrition, exercise, yoga, stress reduction practice, walking clubs, local health clubs, volleyball team and many more modern and innovative techniques.
Comfortable Apartment Living
Student housing is conveniently located above the CIP offices and classrooms. Students live in fully furnished apartments with one roommate, each with their own bedroom, and share the bathroom, kitchen and living room. Instruction is given in meal planning, food preparation, clean up, laundry, apartment maintenance, executive functioning and leisure skills. Laundry rooms are located on each floor of the building.
Coordinated Weekend Activities
Weekend recreational activities are very important opportunities for students to put into practice the social competencies they are developing. Every weekend, several activities are planned and transportation provided. Students may also propose alternate activities. This charming town of Bloomington features many big city pleasures including opera theatre, touring Broadway shows and Big Ten athletic events. Nature lovers enjoy the abundance of parks, national forest and 2,500 acres of green space. Swimming, hiking, local festivals, musical performances, bowling and more keep students busy in Bloomington. We have an "activities meeting" every week lead by the Residential Coordinator, where students are involved in choosing and planning the events.
Exciting Travel Opportunities
Students enrolled at CIP have the option of attending a fun and educational travel program one week a year during the college spring break in March. Students prepare through a series of class meetings in which they study the language, arts, culture and trip itinerary. Each year an exciting new destination is chosen. As part of the spring break experience students often participate in community service. These trips are an excellent opportunity for students to travel and broaden their horizons in a safe, supervised atmosphere. In 2009, Bloomington Center students traveled to the Windy City of Chicago for a week of culture among the hustle and bustle of a well-known American city, stopping at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter to drop off medical supplies and food donations collected prior to the trip. Highlights of Chicago include the Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry and the Art Institute of Chicago. CIP Past trips have also included Ireland, Italy, The Caribbean, Chile and Belize.
Student Senate
The student senate with the guidance of a CIP staff member, provides students the opportunity to develop and refine their leadership skills through event planning and fundraising. These events range from game nights, movie nights and dances to Halloween parties, Super Bowl parties and more. In addition to functioning as an opportunity to develop leadership and social skills the student senate also plays a critical role in providing valuable feedback to the staff concerning program improvement.
Visit our website or call to learn more about the College Internship Program at the Bloomington Center.
